New Caledonia Courtesy of X-Adventure

Welsh wonders Saab-Salomon completed a victorious final stage of the World Cup X-adventure Raid Series held in New Caledonia. Often well placed, seldom winning, the Welsh finally managed, in the Southern Hemisphere, to get the better of arch rivals French furies Les Arc-Quechua, over the 190km course.

Perseverance paid off. After having finished second on several occasions in X-adventure Raid Series in which they have shone for two seasons now, the blistering Brits of Saab-Salomon (GB) finally won their first stage of the World Cup today at Poe Beach, in New Caledonia, under a torrential rain and very violent winds. "We've waited a very long time for this one," admitted Ben Bardsley one of the team's stalwarts. "But the best part is that we finally won on one of the most competitive stages of the season, with the best European teams and two very strong Australian teams in the race. The course was also very typical of a region that none of us is familiar with and very different from what we've seen on the preceding stages."

"We never gave any thought to the final result," he continued. In particular, Saturday evening at the campsite we were worried at how Les Arcs-Quechua (FR) were getting closer and closer to us". Memories of the first stage in May, held in Scotland, that they lost by a mere 4 seconds was surely haunting the Brits. Even the prayers of the village elders in Pwasa - where campsite was located - and the gifts offered, according to a New-Caledonian tradition, to every newcomer weren't enough to dispel the doubts and fears of the British team. This time around though they held out all the way to end of the 190 kilometres, 9 sections and 9 disciplines following one after the other throughout the weekend.

	"...But the best part is that we finally won on one of the most competitive stages of the season..."

The Brits made very few mistakes this time around and those that did occur had only a minor impact, like the orienteering errors during the two MTB sections of the weekend. But nothing would imperil a lead that began about a third into the race, at the end of the first trek through the primeval New-Caledonian forest replete with giant ferns. Over the weekend, they were able to take advantage of a very fast course almost tailored to their ability to go full throttle over terrain with a moderate elevation gain (3,600m) compared to what they have encountered on previous stages in Europe and the United States. An itinerary which gave them ample room to display their improving skills whether it be on inline skates (15km and 6th time) or in canoes, despite suffering a puncture on the very first section of the weekend which cost them a few minutes.

None of the serious adversaries present could prevent them from speeding to their first World Cup victory, not even the capriciousness of the steeds ridden during the unusual ride and run section. Australian team Aroc-Salomon had the best start, Saturday morning, on the mirror-calm seas of Tˇremba bay, on the West coast of Grande Terre. But this team of orienteering and adventure running specialists would also be challenged by a demanding learning curve during this weekend's competition. Firstly, the rules of engagement, which penalised them 5 minutes for running while carrying their canoe on the first section but more especially the format of the race, which is totally new to them. "This is the first time I've ever raced without it being non-stop," remarked Alina McMaster. "Managing these stops at the various assistance points is new to us. But it's a great opportunity to catch your breath and recharge you batteries". But that wasn't enough for this team accustomed to long-distance raids and a little short on speed throughout weekend, as were their compatriots Land Rover-Outdoor (AUS), with two winners of the 2003 Raid Gauloises among their number.

As for the local teams, they did a lot better than just show up. On Grande Terre, which numbers around 4,000 raiders according to a recent survey by the Ministry for Youth and Sports, three local teams were ranked among the top 10, quelling any doubt they had about the inline skating section - a sport rarely seen in New-Caledonia - and the canoeing section, using inflatable craft that they encountered for the first time this weekend.

This first British victory on the X-adventure Raid Series has consolidated the second place earned by Saab-Salomon (GB) in the final ranking of the 2003 World Cup X-adventure Raid Series. Les Arcs-Quechua (FR), by winning three of the five stages in the season, emerge as worthy and conspicuous winners. Already crowned victors before landing, after a 20-hour flight, on the tarmac in Noumˇa, Rudy Gouy and team had however sworn: "not to give an inch". The miniscule gap (3 minutes 28 seconds) that finally separated the first two teams proves the class of the field and the class of this squad from Haute Savoie. The final step on the podium of this 2003 World Cup is occupied by the promising team Equilibre Attitude (FR) who went head to head with the best teams in the world in New Caledonia and finished an astonishing 3rd.

We would like to thank the Government of New Caledonia, the Northern Province and the Southern Province and AIRCALIN, our official carrier. Thanks to their support, we can offer one of the world's finest destinations to the world's finest adventure racers.

1. Saab Salomon
2. Les Arcs-Quechua
3. Equilibre Attitude
4. Human Link
5. Aroc Salomon

For detailed information, pictures to download and live updates www.raidseries.com

—Courtesy of X-Adventure